As Formula One continues to bicker about whether its move into “green” technology was an aberration, its brash, younger sibling – Formula E – was powering ahead on Thursday, proclaiming that the future of motorsport resided within its Donington offices.

After being written off as a concept which could only be realised on paper, the all-electric series will begin racing in 10 global cities in September, starting around the ‘Bird’s Nest’ Olympic stadium in Beijing and finishing in London. Wembley, Battersea Park and the Olympic Park have all been touted as potential venues.

While F1 tried and failed to up the noise in Barcelona, just outside Derby Formula E was proudly boasting the benefits of its more muted, almost aeroplane-like sound.

“I hope this is the future of motorsport,” Alejandro Agag, the sport’s answer to Bernie Ecclestone, told Telegraph Sport. “Everything will depend on technology. As long as its full electric it’s Formula E. But hybrid is Formula One. There is a frontier. At some point, if everything converges, who knows what will happen. But that’s very far down the line.”

A former Spanish politician, and close friend of F1 old hand Flavio Briatore, Agag talks a good game. But in both money and scale, the formulas are galaxies apart. For now, many in F1 view it with curiosity and not as a particular threat. But its rosy launch is a symptom of F1’s failure to embrace its new era.

Some are privately frustrated that while Ecclestone and some very vocal promoters have railed against the sport’s more environmentally-conscious agenda, Formula E has occupied the green gap, attracting involvement from Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Sir Richard Branson, among others. “We will never match F1 for prestige, but we are on a collision course for sponsors and viewers,” a Formula E insider said.

F1’s hybrid revolution demonstrates an attempt to take up the mantra of relevant technology, for a new generation of fans. But amid the quarrelling, Formula E has swooped in to claim this agenda as its own.

Alain Prost, the four-time F1 champion and joint team principal of the e.dams outfit, agrees. “What is important is that people understand what Formula One is doing and they can explain, but at the moment that’s not being done fantastically well. Formula One has not followed innovation in terms of connectivity – it’s always more of the same thing. I’m interested in Formula E because it is much more open and we are part of the same boat.”

Thursday to September is the easy part for Formula E. It is once they go racing that the real scrutiny begins. As a source close to those involved at the FIA, the brainchild of the project, said: “Formula E will look great until the first race. It is well run and well marketed. But it is simply too slow.”

British driver Sam Bird, who will compete for Virgin Racing, meanwhile, contends: “Around street circuits they will be plenty quick enough. This is the way the world is going.”

The cars – supplied to the teams in the first year, built independently from the second – may have been designed for overtaking, but are limited to 135mph to preserve battery life. The FIA concluded that charging the batteries mid-race was too dangerous, so drivers will hop into a second car halfway through the one-hour race.

In an effort to be relevant to the fans, they have also come up with one absurd idea: an X Factor-esque fans’ vote which will give one or possibly three drivers an extra momentary boost to overtake during a race.

But, boasting some strong former F1 drivers – the likes of Jarno Trulli, Nick Heidfeld and Jaime Alguersuari – Formula E has plenty in its favour. Tickets will be cheaper, many of the venues will be spectacular, and some big beasts of the automotive world have enthusiastically signed up.

While F1 persists with its chatter about the noise, Formula E should enjoy the ride and the niche it has filled. But the future of motorsport? It is for F1 to nip that idea in the bud.